A series of
unexplained deaths in foreign hospitals sends an idealistic UCLA medical
student on a desperate search for answers, in this chilling tale from the
master of the medical thriller.

Jennifer Hernandez is a fourth-year medical student at UCLA,
just beginning an elective in general surgery, whose world is shattered during
a break in an otherwise ordinary day. While relaxing in the surgical lounge of
LA’s Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, she half listens to a TV segment on medical
tourism: first-world citizens traveling to third-world countries for surgery.
But when she hears her beloved grandmother’s name mentioned, Jennifer’s heart
nearly stops: the CNN reporter says that Maria Hernandez has died, a day after
undergoing a hip replacement in New Delhi’s Queen Victoria Hospital.

Maria had raised Jennifer and her brothers from infancy, and
the bond between grandmother and granddaughter was unbreakable. Still, the news
that Maria traveled to India is a shock to Jennifer, until she realizes that it
was the only viable option for the hardworking yet uninsured woman.

Devastated, and desperate for answers, Jennifer takes
emergency leave from school and heads to India, where relations with local
officials go from sympathetic to sour as she pushes for more information. With
revelations of other unexplained deaths compounded by pressure from Indian
hospital officials for hasty cremations, Jennifer reaches out to her mentor,
New York City medical examiner Dr. Laurie Montgomery, who has her own deep
connection to Maria.

Laurie, along with her husband, Dr. Jack Stapleton, rushes
to the younger woman’s side, and discovers a sophisticated medical facility
with little margin for error. As the death count grows, so do the questions,
leading Laurie and Jennifer to unveil a sinister, multi-layered conspiracy of
global proportions.

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Listener Opinions

Suzi Andrade | 2/20/2014

" This book had great potential. I listened to the unabridged version on 10 CDs. The story stretched out over the first 9 discs and then had a rushed, and quite predictable, culmination in the last 40 minutes of the 10th disc, leaving me feeling cheated...or something like that. This was not his best book, but it was still mostly enjoyable. I have to say, though, that I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who has never read Cook before for fear they might not pick up another. "

Barbara | 2/13/2014

" Robin Cook, a doctor/author writes his tales around a current medical issue. This one was about medical tourism, and it really makes you think. "

Linda | 2/5/2014

" Not as good as some of his earlier books, but I enjoyed it. "

Amruta | 1/30/2014

" This is the first Robin Cook book that I've read and I simply loved. If you want to read a nice easy read fiction, this is the one for you! "

Tina | 1/27/2014

" Fairly predictable Robin Cook formula, but this did delve into a topic I had not read about before - medical tourism. Good read. "

Tom Holt | 1/25/2014

" Foreign Body by Robin Cook (2008) "

Kim | 1/20/2014

" suprised myself. Wasn't able to finish it. I usually really like Robin Cook, and the story line in this one is okay...the writing just seemed very amateurish. I never would have guessed it was written by Cook. In fact after the first 10-20 pages I had to double check the author for myself. "

Rena | 1/16/2014

" Basically good, but a little too long winded at times. It could have been more exciting. "

Jayne | 1/8/2014

" Too much pfaff and too many sucky characters. "

Lifeinasmalltown | 12/30/2013

" It took me a while to read this book, and I had the feeling that I had read it before. Some typos were bothersome. "

Jeannine | 12/26/2013

" Disappointing. When I first started reading his books, I loved them, but after you've read a few, they're all the same. I had two more checked out from the library, but took them back without reading them. "

Peggy | 12/14/2013

" very typical Robin Cook. I always enjoy his books but there never seems to be much variation in his "template" "

Quint | 12/10/2013

" It was all I could do to finish this book. It was not typical of Robin Cook. "

Deb Medoff | 12/8/2013

" OK beach reading , but not one of his bests. "

Amit Gandhi | 11/19/2013

" Liked the book, but had expected a little bit more towards the end. "

Kay | 11/5/2013

" I enjoyed this book and didn't find it as frightening as some of his other books. I have no intention to go to a foreign country to have surgery so I wasn't worried about it happening to me. Some of his other books keep me in good health because I just don't want to be in a hospital! "

Debbe | 10/14/2013

" I always enjoy reading medical fiction! Though most of Robin Cook could for sure happen. This one kept my attention from a professional view as well as intrigue! A little slow toward the end but I think that is because I was impatient to see how it ended! "

Brenda | 10/11/2013

" Listening to this on CD. Boring. Don't think I will finish. "

Jen | 2/19/2013

" Good...as his usually are, but I did feel like the end was very rushed, like he was trying to meet a deadline and get everything wrapped up in a nice little package. I do though always enjoy his books and like the characters of Laurie Montgomery and Jack Stapleton... "

Stephanie | 1/29/2013

" I liked the story line here, but really hated the writing style of the author. I don't know what it was exactly that I didn't like. His conversations between characters seemed totally unrealistic I think. Anyway, I probably will not read another book by this author. "

Fran | 1/23/2013

" Medical tourism in India - total escape with a great plot. I enjoyed it! "

Kw | 9/30/2012

" One of his better mysteries. Good characters, interesting setting, etc. "

Icicle4 | 8/16/2012

" This seemed to be another Robin Cook book except set in India. Not bad, bud didn't hold my interest real well. "

" I remember starting this book after watching a mini web series that sparked the interest. I think if you have not seen his mini web series you may feel a little lost. I watched it and loved it. It help fit some pieces together, "

Abhimanyu | 5/6/2011

" Not Dr. Robin Cook at his best.. Nonetheless,a good read... The plot based in the Indian Subcontinent is a little far from reality... The India portrayed in the book, the land of kings, and elephants, has long changed... That seems to be the eternal failure in the story...
"

David | 1/10/2011

" the medical tourism idea is nice but too predictable plus the dialogue is not natural,too many uncommon words,a give it 2 out of 5
"

Luan | 9/14/2010

" this book was flat, unexciting, and totally disappointing. Don't read it. The only reason I listened through the whole thing was because I bought it. I shouldn't have bought it. But I was duped. robin cook can be such a great writer. why has he let his standards slip.
"

Karen | 8/28/2010

" Another good Robin Cook story. Love how the plot is written around the idea of healthcare being more affordable in foreign countries as well as competitive with American standards.
"

Tracy | 8/23/2010

" I wish I had read some reviews before I picked this up on impulse from the library. I agree with those who chided Cook for his overuse of exclamation points, tedious plot, and unrealistic dialogue. His editor should be fired.
"

Atopham | 7/30/2010

" Not as spell binding as previous books, but interesting, nevertheless.
"

Other Titles by Robin Cook:

About the Author

Robin Cook is a doctor and bestselling author who is credited with popularizing the medical thriller genre with his wildly successful first novel, Coma. His other titles include Death Benefit, Cure, Intervention, Foreign Body, and Critical, among others. He divides his time between New Hampshire and Florida.

About the Narrator

George Guidall, winner of eighty-eight AudioFile Earphones Awards, has twice won the prestigious Audie Award for Excellence in Audiobook Narration. In 2014 the Audio Publishers Association presented him with the Special Achievement Award for an audiobook narrator of exceptional stature and accomplishment. During his thirty-year recording career he has recorded over 1,100 audiobooks, won multiple awards, been a mentor to many narrators, and shown by example the potential of fine storytelling. Among Guidall’s narration achievements are Crime and Punishment, The Iliad, and John Irving’s A Widow for One Year, which earned him an Audie Award for best unabridged narration of a novel, an honor he captured again for his rendition of Wally Lamb’s I Know This Much Is True. Guidall’s forty-year acting career includes starring roles on Broadway, an Obie Award for best performance off Broadway, and frequent television appearances.

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